Progressive transformation of germinal centers

Progressive transformation of germinal centers, abbreviated PTGC, is a rare lymph node pathology.

General

• Benign.
• Classically in younger patients.
• Associated with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL); NLPHL found in up to 5% in a 7 year follow-up.

Clinical:

• Asymptomatic lymphadenopathy.

Microscopic

Features:

• Follicular hyperplasia (many follicles).
• Focally large germinal centers with:
  • Poorly demarcated germinal center (GC)/mantle zone interfaces (as GCs infiltrated by mantle zone lymphocytes) -- key feature.
  • Expanded mantle zone.

Images:

• PTGCs - very low mag. (WC).
• PTGCs - low mag. (WC).

See also

• Lymph node pathology.
• Lymph node.
• Haematopathology.

Additional reading

• Hansmann ML, Fellbaum C, Hui PK, Moubayed P (February 1990). "Progressive transformation of germinal centers with and without association to Hodgkin's disease". Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 93 (2): 219–26. PMID 2405631.
• Kojima M, Nakamura S, Motoori T, et al. (April 2003). "Progressive transformation of germinal centers: a clinicopathological study of 42 Japanese patients". Int. J. Surg. Pathol. 11 (2): 101–7. PMID 12754626.